Weekly Roundup – Week of 9.4.23
September 8, 2023
Explore this week’s top trending stories from the food and beverage industry – curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
College Dining Programs Face Challenges Catering to Students’ Dietary Needs
A sizeable number of students entering or returning to college campuses this fall have dietary restrictions from allergies or are following specific diets based on health, environmental or other lifestyle demands. Meal plans are often a mandatory expense for students who live on campus, requiring schools to feed thousands throughout the day and night. Special dietary needs have forced many schools to review every ingredient in their recipes, reworking their menus to exclude certain allergens or post announcements about menu items that meet certain lifestyle diets. “Several dining hall managers and dietitians said they do their best to meet each student’s needs, but acknowledged that it can be difficult and cost-prohibitive to accommodate all of them.” Read More. Subscription required after initial free trial.
The Right Influencer Marketing Strategy Can Elevate Your Brand and ROI
Influencer marketing is almost a $22 billion industry, based on Social Shepard data. Yet, identifying the right influencer to boost awareness for and engagement with your brand is challenging. Mediakix reports that “micro-influencers usually have a 6.6% to 8.8% engagement rate—almost seven times more than the mega-influencer’s numbers” —and could be a viable and lucrative resource for your social media campaign. However, brands also need to protect their investment by following some clearly defined steps and timelines with the micro-influencers they hire. Find those, Here.
New Podcast Reveals Psychological Reasons For Gen Z Purchase Decisions
Alpha-Diver president, Hunter Thurman, applied his scientific methodology to what drives Gen Z purchase decisions and why they’re driven toward certain snack brands and products. Oreo, Doritos, and Lays are the top three brands Gen Zers purchase/consume and Thurman shared that each brand is “high on experience” as the reason. He explained that Oreo offers new experiences, Doritos is more of an impulsive, quick feel-good mood boost, and Lays aligns with conformity and social connection. Regarding the health and wellness snack trend, Thurman pointed out that products that offer an emotional experience are more important to Gen Z consumers versus foods labeled with functional benefits – think high in protein, antioxidants, etc. Check out the podcast for more insights. Listen Now.
Strategies To Reignite Grocery E-Commerce
According to SymphonyAI Retail CPG, more than half (52%) of consumers have stopped using grocery e-commerce since 2022. Loyal e-commerce customers still shop in-store at least 40% of the time and lack of online personalization are reasons for this decline. 84.51° data shows that convenience is the top motivation for choosing online grocery shopping. With that in mind, grocers who offer prepared meals as an option on their e-commerce channels can help attract shoppers back to their site or app. Learn More.
Brew On This!
America’s pumpkin-flavored industry may have one man to thank. Before pumpkin-flavored products became a $500m+ industry and Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte was a household name, a thrifty photographer by the name of Bill Owens set out to earn his own statistics. In the 1970s when home-brewing was prohibited (until 1978), Owens defied authorities and began crafting his own beer. In 1980, he formulated a business plan and testified in front of the California state legislature to legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages brewed on-site to alleviate distribution challenges. Months later, he opened one of the country’s first brewpubs. After several attempts at finding the right recipe, Owens crafted a pumpkin ale which he also sold at grocery and liquor stores by 1986 – leading the way for many more craft brewers and pumpkin-flavored products to follow.
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